You cannot delete a search result unless you own the website it came from

Google does not remove search results just because you ask. If the page belongs to someone else — a news site, a social media platform, another person's blog — you cannot delete it from Google's index yourself. What you can do is request that Google remove it under specific circumstances, like if it contains your personal information and meets Google's removal policy, or ask the website owner to take the page down first.

If the page is yours — a blog post you wrote, a page on your own website, content you posted on a platform you control — you have direct options. You can remove it from Google Search by deleting it from your site, by using Google Search Console to request removal, or by blocking Google from indexing it in the first place.

Key Takeaways

  • Pages you own can be removed from Google by deleting them from your website or using Google Search Console to request removal.
  • Pages you do not own can only be removed if they contain your personal information and meet Google's removal policy, or if the website owner deletes them.
  • Google Search Console is the fastest tool for removing your own content and takes a few minutes to set up if you have not used it before.
  • Removal requests for personal information (like your home address or phone number) are processed faster than other types of requests.
  • Even after removal, the page may reappear in search results if it is still live on the web and Google re-indexes it.

Removing a page you own using Google Search Console

Google Search Console is Google's tool for website owners. If you own the website the page is on, this is the fastest way to remove it from search results. You will need to verify that you own the site — Google does this by checking a file on your server or by confirming your domain registration.

Go to search.google.com/search-console and sign in with the Google account associated with your website. Click the property (your website) from the list. On the left menu, find Indexing and click Removed URLs. Paste the full web address of the page you want removed and click the button to request removal. Google will remove it from search results within a few days, though the page itself stays live on your website.

This removal is temporary — if Google crawls your site again and finds the page still there, it may reappear in search results. To make the removal permanent, delete the page from your website entirely or add a noindex tag to it (a line of code that tells Google not to index it). If you are not comfortable editing code, deleting the page is simpler.

Deleting the page from your website entirely

The most permanent way to remove a page from Google Search is to delete it from your website. Once the page no longer exists, Google will eventually remove it from search results on its own, though this can take weeks or months depending on how often Google crawls your site.

How you delete a page depends on what platform your website uses. If you use WordPress, log in to your dashboard, find the page or post under Pages or Posts, click it, and select Move to Trash. If you use Wix, Squarespace, or another website builder, look for a Delete or Remove button in the page editor. If you built your site with HTML files, delete the file from your server using an FTP client or your hosting provider's file manager.

After you delete the page, go back to Google Search Console and request removal of the URL to speed up the process. Google will remove it from search results faster than waiting for the next automatic crawl.

Requesting removal of personal information you did not post

If a page contains your personal information — your home address, phone number, email, national ID number, or bank account details — and you did not post it, you can request that Google remove it from search results even if you do not own the website.

Go to google.com/webmasters/tools/removals and sign in. Click New Request and select Remove information from Google Search. Choose the type of information (address, phone number, ID, or financial account) and paste the URL of the page containing it. Describe why you want it removed — for example, "This is my home address posted without my consent." Google reviews these requests and typically responds within a few days.

This process removes the page from Google Search results only, not from the website itself. If you want the page deleted entirely, you will need to contact the website owner or, in some cases, report it to the platform (if it is on social media or a public forum). Google's removal tool is specifically for keeping your personal information out of search results.

Requesting removal of other content you did not post

If the page does not contain your personal information but you still want it removed — for example, an old news article about you, a defamatory post, or content you believe violates your rights — you have fewer options through Google directly.

Your best route is to contact the website owner or the platform and ask them to remove or update the content. If the site has a contact form or email address, use it. If it is on social media, use the platform's reporting tools. Once the website owner deletes or updates the page, Google will eventually remove it from search results during the next crawl, or you can request removal through Search Console to speed it up.

If the content violates a specific law in your country — for example, defamation, harassment, or copyright infringement — you may have legal options. Some countries allow you to request removal through Google's legal removal process. Go to support.google.com/legal to see if your situation qualifies and how to submit a request.

What happens after you request removal

When you request removal through Google Search Console or the personal information removal tool, Google processes the request and removes the URL from search results. This usually takes a few days to a week. You can check the status in Search Console under Removed URLs — it will show whether the removal is pending, completed, or expired.

Removal is not permanent if the page is still live on the web. If Google crawls your site again and finds the page, it may reindex it and the result will reappear in search. To prevent this, delete the page, add a noindex tag, or use a robots.txt file to block Google from crawling it. Search Console will tell you if a removal has expired and the page has been reindexed.

Blocking Google from indexing a page without deleting it

If you want to keep a page on your website but hide it from Google Search, you can add a noindex tag to the page's code. This tells Google not to include it in search results, but the page remains live and accessible if someone has the direct link.

If you use WordPress, install a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. Edit the page, find the SEO settings, and look for an option to add a noindex tag — usually labeled Allow search engines to index this page or similar. Uncheck it and save. If you edit HTML directly, add this line to the page's <head> section: <meta name="robots" content="noindex">. Save the file and upload it to your server. Google will remove the page from search results within a few days.

This method is useful if you want to keep a page private or hidden from search but do not want to delete it entirely. It does not remove the page immediately — Google has to crawl it again to see the noindex tag — so use Search Console to request removal if you need it gone faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take Google to remove a search result?

Removal requests through Google Search Console usually take a few days to a week. Personal information removal requests are often processed faster, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours. If you delete the page from your website entirely, Google may take weeks or months to remove it on its own, depending on how often it crawls your site.

Can I remove a page from Google Search without deleting it from my website?

Yes. Use Google Search Console to request removal, or add a noindex tag to the page's code. Both methods hide the page from search results while keeping it live on your website. The page will still be accessible if someone has the direct link, but it will not appear in Google Search.

What if the website owner will not remove the page?

If the page contains your personal information, request removal through Google's personal information removal tool. If it violates copyright or another law, contact Google's legal removal team at support.google.com/legal. Otherwise, your options are limited — you can ask the platform to remove it if it is on social media, or consult a lawyer if the content is defamatory or illegal.

Will the page come back in search results after I remove it?

Only if the page is still live on your website and Google crawls it again. If you delete the page entirely, it will not reappear. If you only use Search Console removal or a noindex tag, the page may reappear if you remove the noindex tag or if Google re-indexes it. To keep it gone permanently, delete the page from your site.

Do I need to verify my website to use Google Search Console?

Yes. Google requires you to prove you own the website before you can use Search Console to remove pages. Verification takes a few minutes — Google will ask you to add a file to your server, add a DNS record, or confirm your domain registration. Once verified, you can manage all your site's search results.